Sometime 1979 or 1980.. memories of my father telling me about this enemy tank are fresh.
May 18 2015.. during an early morning cycle ride, I stopped to take a good look at the captured machine. Even this machine is treated with great respect by Indian Army.
May 21 2015
May 18 2015.. during an early morning cycle ride, I stopped to take a good look at the captured machine. Even this machine is treated with great respect by Indian Army.
Captured M-47 Patton Tank
Battle of Assal Uttar
10 Sept 1965
This M-47 Patton Tank was captured at the Bhikiwind village in the Khem sector in 1965. The tank battles of 1965 find their place in annals of military history as the most intense since World War-II. The offensive by the Pakistanis was blunted in the battle of Assal Uttar on 10 Sep 1965.
I'd noticed this tank recently, its on public display at ASC Centre and College entrance on Old Airport Road.
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Vijayanta
MBT "Vijayanta" meaning "Victorious" is the first ever tank produced by India. It was introduced in the Indian army in 1966 under licensed production agreement with "Vickers" of UK. Total of 2200 MBT Vijayanta were produced by Heavy Vehicle Factory, Avadi (Tamil Nadu) till production discontinued in 1983.MBT Vijayanta has the best balance between armour, mobility and fire power. Weighing approximately 40 tons, it is armed with 105 mm rifled gun, 0.3 inch co-axial machine gun and six smoke dischargers. Four member crew consisted of commander, gunner, loader and the driver.
Safe guarding our national borders for nearly four decades, MBT Vijayanta was deeply feared by the enemy. It proved it's mettle in Indo-Pak war of 1971 and destroyed many of the famous Patton tanks of the enemy. The old war hero will always be remembered for the yeoman service in the defence oh the nation.
Though MBT Vijayanta was phased out in 2004, some of it's variants like Kartik Bridge laying tanks and 'catapult' self propelled artillery are still in service.
Another MBT Vijayanta on Ulsoor Tank bund.
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